our year

NATURALLY CHARISMATIC WORKS FOR THE NEW YEAR TURF
LUSITANIA'S SOLDIER WORKS FOR THE NEW YEAR DIRT

Mounting up on her last worker for the day, Marissa was determined to turn him into a star this year. He was Lusitania's Soldier, now a mature four year old. Hopefully, he would be like his dam, Lusitania. She'd had a good four year old season, and an incredible five year old season, where she won the Breeder's Cup Classic. Soldier had had a short two year old season, and an improved three year old season. He now had a record of 21-3-9-5. Unraced since the third week of November, a race that he had won, Soldier was ready to begin his four year old season with a bang.

Stella had similar aspirations for Naturally Charismatic. The five year old mare had gradually improved over the years and hopefully this would be the year she broke out and made a name for herself. If not, Stella knew she would run again as a six year old next year. The goal was to get this extremely well bred mare to the dizzying heights of grade one, and hopefully a run and win in the Breeder's Cup. Charis currently had a record of 37-6-8-11, so she was seven wins away from grade one. It would be alot for the mare to accomplish, since in her previous three seasons she had managed just six wins, but a change in her training schedule could see her climb to the top.

The two thoroughbreds started their warm up on the dirt, trotting briskly. Lusitania's Soldier was entered in the New Year Dirt Stakes, which had attracted a field of four. Run over eleven furlongs on dirt, it was a perfect first race of the year for the colt. Running against them was This Means War, Dreamcatcher and Top Admiral. They were all of similar experience, with Dreamcatcher being the only filly in the field and also the only three year old. This Means War and Lusitania's Soldier were closers, Dreamcatcher was a preceder, and Top Admiral was a front runner, so the field worked nicely.

Moving on into canter, Stella considered Naturally Charismatic's race. The dual surfaced mare was entered in the New Year Turf Stakes, which was eleven furlongs on turf. It had attracted just three entrants, and besides Charis there was Cosmic Warfare and Odd Number Out. Odd Number Out was a four year old colt who had barely raced, so five year old stallion Cosmic Warfare would likely be the one to watch out for. Since none of the entrants were front runners, the pace would likely be quite slow as no one would want to lead. Stella would have to make sure to break slowly and get Charis in behind one of the others.

After a thorough warm up, it was time to gallop. They would do six furlongs, and take it easy for half and treat the other half like a race. The thoroughbreds broke into gallop right on cue, and were held side by side. Their strides were full of unused power and energy, and they tugged on the reins, begging to go faster. A head toss and a slight leap from Soldier as they entered the turn. Easy, dude.. Just one more furlong and we'll really get moving. Marissa told him in soothing tones. His ears flicked to listen, and he calmed slightly.

Just seconds later, they were at the three furlong marker and powering away from it. As seasoned racehorses, they knew how to take the turn fast and so they accelerated right the way through it and into the stretch. Lusitania's Soldier began to inch ahead of Charis, but the mare wasn't going to give in. A little more urging from Stella and she began to gain back her ground again. By one and a half furlongs from the finish, they had finished accelerating and were sprinting at full speed, nose to nose. As they flashed past the finish, Lusitania's Soldier was ahead but only by a nose. They were ready to take on the new year.